Firing mechanism for breech-loading guns.



PATENTED JULY 25, 1905.

S. A. S. HAMMAR.

FIRING MECHANISM FOR BREEGH LOADING GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. l0 1902.

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s' nuaml'oz PATENTED JULY 25 S. A. S. HAMMAR. FIRING MECHANISM FORBREEGH LOADI NG GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED .TAN.10 1902.

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lvitncaaco ANDREW n GRAHAM no. FHOTDlmnCRNHFM wmmcrommr.

.No. 795,440. PATENTED'JULY 25, 1905.

' S. A. S. HAMMAB..

FIRING MECHANISM FOR BREEGH LOADING GUNS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 10,1902.

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ANDREW a. GRAHAM c0. nmoumocm WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFTOE.

SIGARD A. S. HAMMAR, OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO BE"HLEl-IEMSTEEL'OOMPANY, OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OFPENNSYLVANIA.

FIRING MECHANISM FOR BREECH-LOADING GUNS- Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented July 25, 1905.

Application filed January 10, 1902. Serial No. 89i173.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIGARD A. S. HAMMAR, a subject of the King of Swedenand Norway, residing at Bethlehem, in the county of Northampton andState of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Firing Mechanism for Breech-Loading Guns, of which the followingisaspecification.

My invention relates to the firing mechanism of breech-loading guns; andit consists of means whereby the rotation of the breechblock whenunlocked from the breech may be the means of retracting the firing-head,so that the firing-pin cannot possibly contact percussively with thecartridge when the breech-block is again inserted and locked and so thatwhen the gun is to be fired percussively the firing-head will be held inretracted position until released by draft upon the lanyard or otheractuating means; and my invention consists in so constructing the partsas to secure these results, as fully set forth hereinafter and asillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure'l is a centralhorizontal plan of the rear portion of a gun, showing suflicient thereofto illustrate myimprovements. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the cocking-ring,showing the position of the cocking-head for percus-- sive firing priorto the unlocking of the breech-block; Fig. 3, a similar View showing theposition of the cocking-head for electric firing prior to unlocking thebreech-block. Fig. 4 is an edge view of the cocking-ring looking in thedirection of the arrow, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a face view of thecocking-head lool ing from the rear thereof. Fig. 6 is a view looking inthe direction of the arrow, Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a side view of thecocking-head.

To the breech B of the gun is pivoted in any suitable manner the carrierring or plate A, to which is bolted the hub or boss K, threadedexteriorly to receive the breechblock O, which turns upon the hub andwhich has interrupted threads adapted to corresponding threads in thebreech, so that the parts may be firmly locked together by carrying thethreads of the breechblock between those of the breech and then turningthe breech-block a part of a revolution, as usual. The rotation of thebreech-block in turning it to a position to enter the breech is made themeans of carrying the firing-head, which includes the firing-pin and theparts connected to move therewith, automatically to a cooked positionfor percussion firing and of withdrawing the firing-head to a positionto prevent percussion firing when it is intended to fire by means of anelectric current.

For the purpose of securing these results the firing-head J in which thepin is seated and which is practically part thereof, extends centrallythrough the hub and through an axial opening in the breech-block andterminates in the firing-pin a at the inner end, and near the outer endthere is an angular portion of the stem, which fits so as to slide in acorresponding opening in the hub, and there is a shoulder 5 upon thefiring-head which may be an annular shoulder, at the rear of which is anincline 6 for engaging an incline upon the sear 7 which is thus forcedback, when the firing-head is carried backward until the shoulder 5passes to the rear of the sear, when the latter will be forced inward bya spring 36 to engage the shoulder 5 and lock the firing-head in itsretracted position.

The firing-head is provided with arms 37 37, forming a suitable handleby means of which it may be drawn back by hand when desired.

A part of the stem of the firing-head passes through a cocking-head H,having a tubular stem 10, which constitutes a support for thefiring-head and its pin and from which projects laterally arms 12 12,the said stem 10 being somewhat shorter than the distance between twoshoulders l 2 upon the firinghead, which therefore cam slide to alimited extent in the cocking-head, and against the latter bears one endof a sprin M, the other end of which bears upon a washer N to hold thelatter against a shoulder 15 on the firinghead, said washer also attimes bearing upon a shoulder 16 of the hub.

The firing-head may be drawn back by the handle to carry the angularpart 25 out of the opening and then turned quarter round and thefiring-head again pushed forward, and thus the cocking-head may be setin either of the two positions-shown in Figs. 2 and 3; but

in either position it is prevented from rotation. When the firing-headis thrown forward, the shoulder 2 acts as a stop, limiting this forwardmovement.

Secured to or constituting a part of the breech-block C and within acentral chamber or recess of the latter is the cocking-ring D, whichring is secured to the breech-block to turn therewith and is providedwith two symmetrically-disposed lugs or cams 17, each projecting to therear and having an inclined edge w, adapted to engage an inclined face;2 upon one of the arms 12 of the cocking-head, so that the rotation ofthe breech-block and its cocking-ring in turning the breech-block toopen the gun will result in bringing the inclined faces :0, Fig. 2,beneath the inclined faces y, and thereby as the breech-block is turnedto disengage its threads from those of the breech, exert a cam actionthat carries rearward the cocking-head and the firing-head axially,compressing the spring M, the firing-head sliding without turning untilthe shoulder 5 passes the sear 7, which then engages said shoulder andlocks the firing-head in its retracted position. WVhen the breech-blockis rotated in inserting it, the lugs 17 are carried out of theirposition in front of the arms 12, so that the latter can move inwardwhen the sear is retracted. By then drawing the sear outward by means ofa lanyard or otherwise the firing-head is released, when the pressure ofthe spring M will force the firing-head forward and explode thecartridge.

For firing electrically, while it is desirable to avoid the projectingof the pin beyond the face of the breech-block in closing, as it mightthen explode the cartridge percussively, it is equally desirable thatthe pin shall project beyond this face and bear firmly against thecartridge to secure a proper contact when the electric current istransmitted for firing. I therefore provide means whereby in electricfiring the pin may be retracted when the breech-block is inserted in thebreech and then slowly moved forward to secure contact with thecartridge as the breech block is turned to lock it and whereby the pinis drawn back as soon as the breech-block begins to turn to open thebreech. To secure this result, the

firing-head is first set for electric firing by seizing the handle anddrawing it back until the angular portion 25 is out of the angularopening in the hub, after which the head is then turned part of arevolution to bring the arms 12 12 to the crosswise position. (Shown inFig. As the firing-head is drawn back the washer N seats on the shoulder16 and the spring M becomes compressed, so that when the draft on thehandle is relaxed the firinghead will move inward, its angular portionagain entering the recess and the firing-head in its new position beingthus held from turning.

Upon the cocking-ring D are two slight inclines w w, which as the breechblock is turned in the direction of the arrow a, Fig. 3, for the purposeof unlocking the breechblock are brought beneath the arms 12 of thecocking-head and force the latter backward until the shoulder 2 is metby the end of the stem of the cocking-head, which acts as a stop toprevent further rearward movement. It will be seen that this stop andthe shoulder 1, also acting as a stop while movable axially, serve tolimit the forward and rearward movement of the firing-pin in thecocking-head. The pin 4 is thus retracted back of the forward face ofthe breech-block, so that when the latter is carried inward to lockingposition there will be no projection of the pin and no danger of apercussive action on the cartridge. As the breech-block is now turned tolock it in position in the breech the inclines w 10 will be graduallycarried from beneath the arms 12 12, and the cockinghcad will be allowedto more slowly forward under the action of the spring M until it rests.firmly in contact with the cartridge. The current is then passedthrough the conductor 30, carried by the firing-head, to explode thecartridge.

It will be seen from the above that the firing-head may be set in twopositionsone for percussive firing and one for electric firing and thatwhen in position for percussive firing it is retracted by being carriedback, with its support H, to compress the firing-spring and is thenlocked in retracted position as the breech-block is unlocked, while whenin position for electric firing the firing-head and its support areretracted in like manner to a less extent on unlocking the breech-blockand are slowly carried forward as the breech-block is turned to lock itin the breech.

\Vithout limiting myself to the precise construction shown anddescribed, I claim- 1. The combination with a rotatable breechblock, ofa firing head extending axially through and sliding in said block, camscarried by the breech-block to engage parts carried with the firing-headto retract the latter as the breech-block is turned to unlock it fromthe breech, means forlocking the firinghead in its retracted position,and other cams arranged to moy e back the firing-head as thebreech-block is unlocked and to permit the slow forward movement of thefiring-head as the breech-block is locked in the breech, and means forengaging the firing-head with the different cams, substantially as setforth.

2. The combination with the carrier-plate and rotatable breech-block ofa gun, of a liring-head sliding without turning in a part connected withthe carrier-plate and extend ing through the breech-block, and twodifferent devices for moving the firing-head to the rear as thebreech-block is turned to unlock it from the breech, whereby thefiring-head may be moved to different position for percussive orelectric firing accordingly as it is placed in engagement with one orthe other of said devices, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with the rotatable breech-block of a gun and itssupport, of a firing-head sliding in and extending through saidbreech-block and support and adapted to be set in different positions,and different sets of projections carried by the breech-block arranged,one set to retract the firing-head to firing position, and the other tomerely carry the point of the head back of the face of the breech, whenthe latter is turned to unlock it, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with the rotatable breech-block of a gun, of afiring-head having a terminal contact-point normally extending beyondthe inner face of the breech-block, means for including the firing-headin an electric circuit, and means for retracting the firing-head asthebreech is unclosed and for moving it slowly inward into contact with theshell when the breech-block is locked in the breech, substantially asset forth.

5. The combination with the rotatable breech-block of a gun, of afiring-head having a terminal contact-point normally projecting beyondthe inner face of the breech-block, means for connecting it with anelectric conductor, means for retracting the firing-head as the breechis unclosed, and for moving it slowly forward as the breech-blockcompletes its rotation in closing the breech, substantially as setforth.

6. The combination with the rotatable breech-block, the slidingfiring-head adapted to be turned to different positions, and means forholding it in each position, of two different sets of inclines upon thebreech-block, and an adjustable cocking-head for engaging either set ofsaid inclines the firing-head having a limited sliding movement in thecocking-head, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with the rotatable breech-block, and its support, ofa firing-head.

' sliding in said support, means whereby the said firing-head may beturned to different positions, a cocking-head connected to turn with thefiring-head, and two sets of projections carried by the breech-block oneadapted to engage the cocking-head when the same is in one position andthe other to engage the cocking-head when the latter is in its otherposition, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination with the breech-block, and its support, of aslidingfiring-head, means whereby it may be turned and secured indifferentpositions, a shoulder upon the firinghead, a spring-actuated sear forengaging said shoulder, a spring for carrying the firing-head forward,and two sets of lugs carried by the breech-block for engaging andretracting the firing-head to different distances when the latter is indifferent positions, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination with a firing-head, and means for setting it indifferent positions, of acocking-head connected to turn with thefiring-head, and two sets of projections carried by the breech-block andarranged one set to engage the cocking-head when in one position andother set to engage it when in the other position, substantially as setforth.

10. The combination with the rotatable breech-block, and its support, ofa firing-head connected with an electric conductor and extending throughthe breech-block, and projections carried by the breech-block arrangedto contact with part of the firing-head to retract the latter and carryits pin within the breech-block as the latter begins its rotation inopening the breech and to permit the firinghead to move slowly forwardas the breechblock completes its rotation in closing the breech,substantially as set forth.

11. The combination with the rotatable re cessed breech-block and thesliding firing- 'head, of adjustable devices within the recess of thebreech-block for retracting the firinghead to different degrees as thebreech-block is turned to open the breech, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination with a rotatable breech-block and its carrier, oftwo sets of devices for retracting the firing-pin upon rotation of thebreech-block, and means for engaging the firing-pin operatively witheither set of devices, substantiallyas set forth.

13. The combination with a rotatable breech-block and its carrier, oftwo sets of devices constructed respectively to retract the firing-pindiflerent distances upon the rotation of the breech-block for electricor percussive firing, and means for bringing either set of devices intooperation upon the firing-pin at will, substantially as set forth.

14:. The combination with a rotatable breech-block and its carrier, of afiring-pin, two camsadapted to retract the firing-pin differentdistances for electric or percussive liring respectively, and means forengaging the firing-pin with either cam,substantially as set forth.

15. The combination with a rotatable breech-block and its carrier, of acockinghead movable axially in said breech-block, means for retractingsaid cocking-head automatically when the breech-block is turned, and afiring-pin adapted to be retracted by said cocking-head, said firing-pinhaving a slight longitudinal movement relative to said cocking-head,whereby it is adapted both for electrical and percussive firing,substantially as set forth.

closed, means for automatically retracting 16. The combination with arotatable to throw the firing-pin beyond its normal pobreech-block and afiring-pin movable aXially sition for percussive firing, substantiallyas in said block and adapted for electrical or perset forth. cussivefiring, of means for holding said firing- In testimony whereof I havesigned my name pin normally in a partially-retracted position to thisspecification in the presence of two subsuitable for electric firingwhen the breech is scribing witnesses.

SIGARD A. S. HAMMAR.

said firing-pin for percussive firing when the breech is opened, meansfor holding the firing- WVitnesses: pin in its retracted position, meansfor releas- LEIGHTON N. D. MIXsELL, ing the firing-pin, and afiring-spring adapted C. REsILLER.

